Icelandair doubling its flights to Vancouver starting next month

There will be twice as many flights between Vancouver and Reykjavik starting this May – the start of Iceland’s summertime thaw.

Icelandair will increase its weekly non-stop flights serving Vancouver International Airport from two per week to four per week starting on May 2. The frequency change is year-round.

Using a Boeing 757, flights from YVR will depart Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday while return flights from Keflavík International Airport will leave Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday.

The airline launched the Vancouver route in 2014 as a twice-weekly seasonal service, and it upgraded the route into a year-round service last year.

Icelandair’s service allows quick connections to destinations in the United Kingdom and on the European mainland.

In early-June, YVR will gain two new non-stop connections to Europe from new Air Canada services. This includes a three times weekly seasonal service to Zurich, Switzerland and a four times weekly seasonal service to Paris, France.

New and improved major YVR routes 2017-18

February 5, 2017:Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas – Air Canada to begin daily service

December 20, 2017:Orlando International Airport – Air Canada to begin twice weekly non-stop seasonal service

January 29, 2018: Edmonton, Alberta – WestJet to increase flights from 50 to 59 times weekly

January 29, 2018: Calgary, Alberta – WestJet to increase flights from 88 to 112 times weekly

January 29, 2018: Kelowna, BC – WestJet to increase flights from 40 to 49 times weekly

January 29, 2018: Ottawa, Ontario – WestJet to increase flights from seven to 14 times weekly

January 29, 2018: Regina, Saskatchewan – WestJet to increase flights from six to seven times weekly

January 29, 2018: Fort St. John, BC – WestJet to increase flights from six to 12 times weekly

January 29, 2018: Victoria, BC – WestJet to increase flights from 33 to 35 times weekly

January 29, 2018: Cancun, Mexico – WestJet to increase flights from two to three times weekly

January 29, 2018: Cabo San Lucas, Mexico – WestJet to increase flights from one to two times weekly

March 18, 2018:Mexico City, Mexico – WestJet launches three times weekly year-round service

April 29, 2018: Mexico City, Mexico – WestJet service to be upgraded into daily year-round service

May 2, 2018:Reykjavík, Iceland – Icelandair to upgrade existing year-round service to four times weekly throughout the year.

May 4, 2018: Chicago O’Hare International Airport – American Airlines to begin year-round, daily service

May 17, 2018: Sacramento International Airport – Air Canada to begin year-round, daily service

May 25, 2018: Shenzhen Bao’an International Airportand Tianjin Binhai International Airport – Hainan Airlines to begin year-round, twice-weekly service to Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport with one stop at Tianjin Binhai International Airport

June 1, 2018: Melbourne, Australia – Air Canada service to be upgraded into three times weekly year-round

June 7, 2018: Zurich, Switzerland – Air Canada to begin three times weekly seasonal service

June 8, 2018: Paris, France – Air Canada to begin four times weekly seasonal service

June 8, 2018:Delhi, India– Air Canada upgrades seasonal service to four times weekly year-round

October 28, 2018: Honolulu, Hawaii – Air Canada upgrades service to two times daily during winter

October 28, 2018: Maui, Hawaii – Air Canada upgrades service to two times daily during winter

December 15, 2018: Kauai, Hawaii – Air Canada begins three times weekly seasonal service

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Kenneth Chan

National Features Editor at Daily Hive, the evolution of Vancity Buzz. He covers local architecture, urban issues, politics, business, retail, economic development, transportation and infrastructure, and the travel industry. Kenneth is also a Co-Founder of New Year's Eve Vancouver. Connect with him at kenneth[at]dailyhive.com